Christ Over Every Category

SLIDE: Scripture Colossians 1:17

Colossians 1:17 NLT

17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

SLIDE: Title

Opening: The Compass and the Forest

Good morning, church.

Full disclosure and fair warning for you: We will be talking about some things today that will make some of you uncomfortable at best — and angry at the worst. We’ll be covering some topics that most of you will think controversial — and / or radical for a pastor to say. But so be it, I am sworn to tell the truth under God.

So sit back, relax and buckle your pew belts...

I want you to imagine something with me. Imagine you're dropped right in the middle of a forest you've never been in. You don't know which way is out. You don't recognize any landmarks. And someone walks up to you and hands you a map.

Great — except the map is for a different forest.

[PAUSE]

That map might be beautifully drawn. It might be detailed and color-coded and laminated. But it's useless — because it doesn't match the terrain you're actually standing in.

Now imagine something different. Instead of a map, someone hands you a compass. You still don't know exactly where you are. You can't see the trail. But you always — always — know which direction is north.

Here's what I want us to understand this morning: A Christian worldview isn't a map that gives you a specific answer to every single question you'll ever face. — It's a compass. — It always points you toward truth. — It always orients you toward God. And when you've got a compass, you can navigate any forest — even one you've never been in before.

[PAUSE]

For four weeks now, we've been building something together. We started with the lens — worldview. — How everyone sees the world through a set of assumptions, whether they know it or not. Then we talked about Creation — God made everything with purpose and intention. Then the Fall — sin broke everything, distorted everything, and left us lost. Then Redemption — God's rescue plan through Jesus Christ. The greatest story ever told.

Today, we get to the question that matters most. The one you've maybe been waiting for. — The practical one.

So what?

What difference does all of this make on a Tuesday afternoon? — When you're at work. — When you're at the grocery store. — When you're scrolling your phone at ten o'clock at night. — When you're sitting across from someone you disagree with.

Main Teaching: Let’s talk about: How Jesus Reorders the Way We Live

SLIDE: Title

Point 1: A Worldview Without Ethics Is Just a Theory

Here's where I want to start: Ideas have consequences. What you believe about the world will eventually — inevitably — show up in how you live in the world.

You can say you believe that every human being is made in the image of God. But if you talk about your neighbor like they're trash, — your behavior is telling a different story than your theology.

You can say you believe God is sovereign over all things. But if you live in constant anxiety and refuse to trust Him with your finances, — your Tuesday is preaching a different sermon than your Sunday.

The apostle James said it as plainly as anyone ever has:

SLIDE: Scripture James 2:17

James 2:17 NIV

17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Dead.

Not weak.

Not sleeping.

Dead.

[PAUSE]

Let me give you a picture of this. It's like someone who studies nutrition for years. They can tell you the glycemic index of any food. They know the difference between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They could write a textbook. And then they live on gas station hot dogs and Mountain Dew.

We'd say, "You don't really believe what you know." Knowledge that doesn't change behavior isn't really believed. It's just held. It's trivia.

And friends, a Christian worldview that stays in your head — that never reaches your hands, your wallet, your calendar, your marriage, your friendships, your politics, — that's not a worldview. That's a hobby.

[PAUSE]

Let me say this gently, — because I'm preaching to myself here too. Some of us have a Sunday worldview — and a Monday worldview. And those two have never been introduced to each other.

[PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER]

They're strangers. They live in different zip codes. And God is saying, "I don't want part of your life. I want all of it."

SLIDE: Title

Point 2: Christian Ethics Are Grounded in God's Character — Not Opinion

So if a Christian worldview has to show up in how we live — in our ethics, our choices, our behavior — then we need to ask: Where do those ethics come from?

Turn with me to Micah chapter 6. — This is one of the most beautiful verses in the Old Testament. God is speaking through the prophet, — and He makes it so clear, so simple, that nobody can miss it:

SLIDE: Scripture Micah 6:8

Micah 6:8 NIV

8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

[PAUSE]

Notice something. — God doesn't say, "Figure out what's good on your own." He says, "I have shown you what is good." — This is revealed truth. It comes from outside of us. It comes from above us. It comes from the character of God Himself.

And that matters enormously — because we live in a culture that says, "You do you." We live in a world that says, — "My truth is my truth and your truth is your truth." The Christian worldview says something radical in response: — Truth isn't something we create. — It's something we discover. — Because it flows from Someone who is truth.

Let me show you why this matters by comparing three different ethical foundations. Just briefly.

Utilitarianism says: Whatever produces the most happiness for the most people — that's what's right. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it? But here's the problem: — Who defines happiness? And what about the minority who suffers so the majority can be comfortable? That math has been used to justify some of the worst atrocities in history.

Relativism says: There are no moral absolutes. Everything is subjective. What's true for you might not be true for me. But try living that way consistently. — Try saying "there are no moral absolutes" when someone steals your car. — You'll become a moral absolutist real fast in that parking lot.

[PAUSE]

Christianity says something different from both: Right and wrong are rooted in the unchanging character of a holy, loving God. — They're not invented by culture. — They're not voted on. — They're not trending on social media. They are bedrock. — They are as solid as the God who established them.

Now, I know what some people say. — They say, "Who are you to judge?" And here's the thing — that's actually the right question. Because the answer is: I'm nobody. Christians don't point to themselves as the standard. — We point to a standard outside ourselves. And that's not arrogance. — That's actually the deepest kind of humility. We're saying, "I didn't make the rules. — But I know the One who did."

[PAUSE]

Think about it this way. A referee doesn't make up the rules during the game. Can you imagine? "I've decided today that you can carry the basketball and run with it." No — the referee applies rules that existed before he ever walked onto the court. He's under the same rulebook as the players.

Christians aren't the rule makers. We're not standing above everyone else wagging our fingers. We're people who've encountered the Rulebook — and more than that, we've encountered the Author. And He has shown us what is good.

SLIDE: Title

Point 3: Thinking Christianly About Everything

Alright — so our ethics are grounded in God's character. But how far does that reach? — Is this just about the "religious" stuff? — Church, prayer, Bible reading?

Paul answers that in Romans 12. Listen to this:

SLIDE: Scripture Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

[PAUSE]

Catch that phrase: "the renewing of your mind." God isn't just interested in what you do on Sunday morning. He's interested in how you think — about everything. — Every category of life. — Every decision. — Every dollar. — Every relationship. — Every vote.

The great Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper once expressed an idea that has echoed through the centuries. And I'll paraphrase it: “There is not one square inch in the entire creation over which Christ, who is Lord of all, does not declare, "Mine."

Not one square inch. Not your job. Not your bank account. Not your marriage. Not your Saturday afternoon. Not your Netflix queue. All of it — His.

So let's get practical. Let's walk through some of the categories of everyday life and ask, — "What does it look like to think Christianly here?"

SLIDE: Christianly 1 WORK

Work.

Your job isn't secular. — I don't care if you're a teacher, a mechanic, a farmer, a nurse, a stay-at-home parent, or a plumber — if you're doing it for the glory of God, you're doing holy work. And God expects you to do it to His glory, NOT yours. Paul said in Colossians 3:23, — "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." The plumber who fixes a pipe with excellence and integrity is doing God's work with a wrench. The teacher who patiently loves a struggling kid is doing God's work at a whiteboard.

SLIDE: Christianly 2 MONEY

Money.

Oh, now this is where it gets uncomfortable. How you spend money is a worldview statement. Every dollar is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. — Are we generous? — Are we content? — Are we storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? Your bank statement will preach a sermon about your priorities that your mouth never will.

SLIDE: Christianly 3 RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships.

How you treat people — especially people who can't do anything for you — reveals your worldview more than any sermon you'll ever hear. More than any book you'll ever read. — The way you speak to the person at the checkout line. — The way you talk about your coworker when they're not in the room. — The way you treat your spouse when nobody's watching. That's your worldview on display.

Relationship also includes your church family... — Do you pray for the people in this church daily? — Are you concerned about them? Spiritually? Emotionally? Physically? — Do you check with them when they haven’t been in church for a couple of Sundays? Do you ask them to come back to church? These are not just the job or your pastor... — these are your job to. If your church family are truly your family... — Then why would you NOT have as much concern for them as your kids, parents, grandkids...?

SLIDE: Christianly 4 TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA

Technology and Media.

What you consume shapes how you think. — We all know the computer phrase: garbage in, garbage out. But that's not just a tech principle — it's a spiritual one. If we're filling our minds with things that distort the image of God in people, — that celebrate what God grieves, — that numb us to sin — we shouldn't be surprised when our thinking looks more like the world's than like Christ's.

[PAUSE]

I once heard a pastor say, "Show me your browser history and your bank statement, — and I'll tell you your real worldview."

Let's move on quickly from that one.

SLIDE: Christianly 5 POLITICS

Politics.

How you engage politically is a worldview statement. Not just who you vote for — but how you carry yourself in a world that is constantly trying to disciple you into outrage. Politics reveals whether Christ truly governs your heart or whether the news cycle does. — Do we speak with humility? — Do we treat people made in God’s image with dignity even when we disagree? — Do we care more about winning arguments or reflecting Jesus? — Do you vote for people do... The kingdom of God is not red or blue — it’s bigger, older, — and holier than any earthly platform. Your political posture should look less like the culture war — and more like the character of Christ.

[PAUSE FOR LAUGHTER]

But here's what I don't want you to hear me saying. I'm not saying that Christians all agree on every issue. — We don't. And we won't this side of heaven. We disagree about politics, economics, schooling choices, how to vote, what to eat, you name it. Good, faithful, Bible-believing Christians land in different places on a hundred different questions.

But what we share — what holds us together — is a foundation. A commitment to think through every issue, — every category, — every decision with the lens of Creation, Fall, and Redemption. God made it. Sin broke it. Jesus is redeeming it. What does that mean for this situation, right here, right now?

That's thinking Christianly. That's using the compass.

SLIDE: Title

Point 4: Don't Just Be Hearers — Be Doers

Now, I have to be honest with you. This series has been — on purpose — a lot of information. A lot of big ideas. — Worldview. — Epistemology. — Creation. — Fall. — Redemption. — Ethics. That's a lot of theology in five weeks.

But God is not impressed by how much theology we can fit in our heads. James — James is having a real good day in this sermon, isn't he? — James said it like this:

James 1:22 NIV

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Do not merely listen. Do what it says.

[PAUSE]

God isn't looking for people with impressive theology notebooks. He isn't handing out awards for the most highlighted Bible. He is looking for people who live it out. — People whose Monday matches their Sunday. — People whose worldview has moved from their head to their hands and feet.

So here's my challenge to you — and it's simple, but it's not easy.

This week, identify ONE area where your worldview and your lifestyle don't match. — Just one. — Be honest with yourself. — Be honest with God. Maybe it's how you spend your money. Maybe it's how you treat your spouse when you're tired. Maybe it's what you're watching after the kids go to bed. Maybe it's a grudge you've been nursing for so long you've forgotten it's even there.

Ask yourself this question: "What would it look like if I actually believed — really believed — what I say I believe?"

[PAUSE]

And let me say this, because it's important:

Two faithful Christians might disagree about how to apply the compass. — And that's okay. Two Christians might disagree about the best way to address poverty in our community. One might emphasize personal charity — giving directly, volunteering, taking someone a meal. The other might emphasize systemic change — advocating for policies, getting involved in local government. Both of them can be operating from a Christian worldview. Both of them are using the same compass. The compass points north — but there are many paths through the forest.

What matters is that we're all using the same compass. That we're all asking the same question: "What does God's Word say? What does God's character demand? How does Creation, Fall, and Redemption apply here?"

And listen — the world doesn't need more Christians who can win arguments.

[PAUSE]

The world needs more Christians — who live differently. — Who love differently. — Who spend differently. — Who speak differently. — Who forgive differently. — Who walk into a room and something is just… well — different… — because Jesus has gotten hold of their whole life, — not just their Sunday morning, but their Monday, their Tuesday, and...

The world needs more Christians that believe in God — with all their mind, heart and soul. To the point that they allow every part of their being — to be controlled by their Christian worldview.

Nothing short of this brings glory to our God. — NOTHING!

SLIDE: Title

Closing: Will You Use the Compass?

Let me take you back to where we started. The forest. The compass.

Over these five weeks, we've been building a compass together. Piece by piece.

● Worldview — the lens through which we see everything.

● Creation — God made this world with purpose and beauty and intention.

● Fall — sin wrecked it. Distorted it. Broke us and everything around us.

● Redemption — God entered the mess in the person of Jesus to rescue, restore, and make all things new.

● Ethics and Application — now we take that framework and live it. Every day. In every category.

That's your compass.

Creation.

Fall.

Redemption.

You hold it in your hands right now.

The question for the rest of your life is: Will you use it?

Not just on Sunday. Not just when it's convenient. Not just when you're around church people.

But on Tuesday at 2 PM, — when your coworker says something that makes your blood boil — will you use the compass?

On Saturday night, — when you're choosing what to watch, what to scroll through, what to let into your mind — will you use the compass?

On April 15th, — when you're doing your taxes and nobody would ever know if you fudged a number — will you use the compass?

In that relationship that's been broken for years, and you know — you know — that God is calling you to forgive — will you use the compass?

On election day, — when you decide who to vote for — will you use the compass?

[PAUSE]

I believe you will. I believe God is doing something in this church through this series. And we're not done yet.

Next Sunday is our final week. And I saved the best for last. We're going to talk about what it means to be anchored and sent. Because here's the thing — standing firm doesn't mean standing still. God anchors us so He can send us. He gives us roots so we can bear fruit. You don't want to miss it.

Let me close with the verse that's been the capstone of this whole series. Paul writes to the Corinthians:

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Stand firm. Let nothing move you. And give yourselves fully — not partially, — not when it's convenient, — not just on Sunday — fully to the work of the Lord.

Let's pray.

[PAUSE — PRAYER]

Father, we thank You that You haven't left us to figure this out on our own. You've given us Your Word. You've given us Your Spirit. You've given us a framework — Creation, Fall, Redemption — that helps us make sense of a confusing world.

Now, Lord, help us live it. Not just know it — but live it. In our homes. At our jobs. With our money. In our relationships. In the quiet moments when nobody is watching. Make us people whose lives match our lips.

We love You, Lord. Help us to love You with every square inch of our lives.

In Jesus' name. Amen.